ITU-T approves G.hn PHY spec

How can this be considered ratification when there are no provisions for the MAC? How do you have a spec when there is not specific information regarding the PHY and MAC? When is consent for the MAC expected? If there is ratification of the spec, why are no accompanying performance and other metrics? Shouldn't these essential items be revealed? Where are the cable and satellite operators? Why is no participation by them? They account for more than 90 percent of pay TV subs in the US alone. what about backward compatibility with already existing standards? What about the existing equipment? Are operators expected to throw that away? How can products be available according to their time frame when there is no certification program, and you cannot have a certification program without ratification? Just thought I's ask.

Per Wikipedia (q.v.), I believe this addresses your question: "G.hn is the common name for the 'next generation' home network technology standard being developed under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and promoted by the HomeGrid Forum and several other organizations. Because it supports networking over power lines, phone lines and coaxial cables with data rates up to 1 Gbit/s[2], G.hn's proponents believe that it will become a universal standard for home networking. ITU Recommendation G.9960, which received Approval on Oct 9th 2009[3], specifies the Physical Layer and the architecture of G.hn. The Data Link Layer (Recommendation G.9961) is in development and targeted to be approved in 2010. The work is being done in the ITU-T Telecommunication Standardization Sector, Study Group 15, Question 4. Over 20 companies are participating regularly, representing a broad cross section of the communications industry including some of the world's largest telephone companies, major communication equipment companies, and some of the leading home networking technology companies."